Rule 290-9-37-.15 - Personnel(1) The administrator for the Community Living Arrangement shall be at least 21 years of age and shall be qualified by training and experience to operate competently the Community Living Arrangement in accordance with these rules.(2) All staff members working in Community Living Arrangements shall be at least 18 years of age and shall be able and qualified by training or experience to carry out all duties and responsibilities of the job competently.(3) The administrator for the Community Living Arrangement agency or residence shall ensure that any staff member who interacts with residents, under contract or otherwise, receives work-related training acceptable to the Department. At no time may a staff member be allowed to work alone with residents until all minimum required training has been completed, including documented evidence of that staff member's competence in each topic area.(a) Prior to having any contact with residents, each staff member shall be trained and show continuing evidence of competence in: 1. Rights and responsibilities of residents according to these rules; and2. Requirements that staff recognize and immediately report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of any resident or former resident to the Department and to appropriate law enforcement agencies.(b) Before working independently with residents, each staff member shall be trained and show continuing evidence of competence in: 1. The medical, physical, behavioral, and social needs and characteristics of the residents served, including training regarding care required to meet the specific needs of each resident;2. Ethics and cultural competence and appropriateness;3. Techniques of de-escalation and techniques to prevent behavioral crises;4. Fire safety and emergency evacuation procedures;5. Techniques of Standard Precautions;6. Policies and procedures for the use of personal restraint, quiet time, and medical protection devices and adaptive support devices; and7. Medications of residents, including risks and benefits.(c) Each staff member shall have current certification in emergency first aid, except where the staff member is a currently licensed physician, physician's assistant, or nurse.(d) Each staff member shall have current certification in basic cardiac life support (BCLS) or cardiopulmonary resuscitation.(4) All staff members who offer direct care to residents must satisfactorily complete a total of at least 16 hours of continuing education per year in curriculum related to the needs of the residents or to the responsibilities of the position.(5) All staff members who offer direct care to any resident shall be responsible for maintaining awareness of each resident's usual appearance and condition and shall take appropriate action if a change in the resident's usual appearance or condition occurs.(6) The administrator and each staff member of a Community Living Arrangement shall have received a tuberculosis screening within 12 months prior to employment (or initial application for licensure or being issued a license for the residence) to ensure that those persons are free of tuberculosis.(7) An employment history for the five most recent years, including previous places of work, contact names, and contact telephone numbers, for each staff member shall be verified by the Community Living Arrangement administrator and shall be maintained on file at the agency operating the Community Living Arrangement.(8) A personnel file shall be maintained for each staff member. These files shall be available for inspection by the appropriate enforcement authorities on the premises but shall otherwise be maintained to protect the confidentiality of the information contained in them, and shall include the following: (a) Evidence of a Georgia Crime Information Center state criminal history record check comparison of data with information other than fingerprints done through local law enforcement authorities and a satisfactory fingerprint criminal history background check;(b) Evidence of satisfactory screening for tuberculosis;(c) Evidence of first aid and BCLS training and recertification as required; and(d) Evidence of required training and competency evaluations, including evidence of 16 hours of continuing education annually.(9) No administrator or staff member shall be under the influence of alcohol or other controlled substances while on duty.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 290-9-37-.15
O.C.G.A. Secs. 31-7-1et seq., 37-1-22.
Original Rule entitled "Personnel" adopted. F. Oct. 24, 2002; eff. Nov. 13, 2002.Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Jan. 23, 2008; eff. Feb. 12, 2008.